Electric range resistance element support



March 24, 1953 H. ANDERSEN 2,632,837

ELECTRIC RANGE RESISTANCE ELEMENT SUPPORT Filed March 28, 1951 I N VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 24, 1953 ELECTRIC RANGE RESISTANCE ELEMENTSUPPORT Earl H. Andersen, Greenville, Mich., assignor to GibsonRefrigerator Company,

Greenvill'e,

M ch, co poratio o c ga Application March 28, 1951, Serial No. 218,049

hi inv nti n r lates t a el ri ra res stanc lement supp rt. e i ven n.is particularly useful in connection with an electr c an h v n a r fltor p n provi ed wi an en ar en ng through which a ylind i a sup or f rh r s t nce e em n xt nd In a el c ri an ha in a efl or can owl it is dei ed. o h an en ng. n h bowl h h. wh ch t tubular he t t s oorcylindrical support, of the resistance element may freelyextend whileproviding adjacent thereto independent supporting means which willenable the resistance element to be turned to different positions whilefrictionally holding the element in raised positions duringcleaning,etc. Further, when the; resistance. element is installed, it isnecessary to. make adjustments thereof to bring the element into thedesired final relation with respect to the reflector pan or range top,and such adjustments should be accomplished at the place ofinstallation. Ihere has further been a need for roviding means whichwill permit such adjustment while at the same time exerting frictionupon the tubular support member to enable it to be held in differentpositions and particularly firmly in a vertical position while thereflector pan or. bowl is being cleaned, etc.

An object of the invention is to. provide a structure meeting the,above, needs while accomplishing the results with a minimum of structureand expense. A still further object is to provide a support for theresistance element through the use of a metal strap secured to thebottom of the range top and occupying little space while at the sametime providing a sturdy support and means thereon for adjustablymounting the resistance element support thereon. Yet another object isto provide in such a structure effective breach or saddle means formaintaining a spring tension upon the resistance element support withoutthe forming or, cutting into the same and which will maintain theresistance element in various angular positions to which it maybe moved.Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specificationproceeds.

The invention is shown in an illustrative em atline i l-3 of Fig. 2 andFig. 4', a perspective 2. View of the support parts shown inspaced-rampart relation and prior to the assembly thereof.

In the illustration given, if! designates an electricrange to havingintegrally formedthere: with a reflector pan. orbowl I I. It will beunderstood that the reflector pan H may, if desired, be a separate partand may be of; difierent shapes and forms. I provide an inclined wallof; the reflector pan H on one side. with an elongated or enlargedopening v [2 through which extends the neck portion 13 of the resistanceelement It.

The resistance element l4 shown inthe, drawing is of the sheet typeformed in the shape of a coil and the coil may be supported Within thebowl by a removable spider 15. In the illustration given, the resistanceelement M has a downwardly-inclined necl; portion extending; through theenlarged opening 12 of the pan H and is provided with a tubularextension [6 of the sheet portion extending downwardly and laterally toprovide a cylindrical support; for the resistance element. It will beunderstood; that. the. cylindrical, support 16 may be formed of anysuitable material, but may conveniently be formed as an extension ofthe. coil portion 13 and may be plO- vided near its lower end witharetaining. collar or fin H. Since the resistance element l4 and itscylindrical support. l6 are of; welleknowncone struction, furtherdescription. is believed. unnecessary.

To provide a bracket support for the electric resistance cylindricalsupport. [6,. I employ a .wide metalstrap I3 which ispreferably of: thincrosssection and turn the upper portion of the'strap to form ahorizontal attachmentflange 19.. The attachment flange i9 is secured tothe: range top ID by welding the flange thereto. or by using rivets,belts, or any. other desired means of attachment. The strapv I8. isbentalong an angular line 20, as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 4, toprovide. a depending body portion 2! having its thin edge facingtherefiector pan l 1 adjacent the opening l2. The. strap portion 2|isreinforced on onev side with a rearwardly-turned flange 22 whichserves. an additional function which will be later described. Thefiangeportion 2] of strap. I8 is further. provided with two large openings 23which permit adjustment of the: re.- sistance support It in. differentdirections, as'will be later described.

I provide a raised support member 2.4 preferably formed of spring steeland providing a bridge or saddle portion 25'adapted to engage the lowerportion of the cylindrical support IS; The member 24 haslaterally-extending flanges 26 apertured to receivethe screws 21.

I provide a clamp member- 28 having laterallyextending flanges 29 alsoapertured to receive the screws 21. The clamp 28 is provided with aU-shaped central portion 30, and along one side are spaced flanges 3|connected by integral neck portions 32 to the clamping member 28. Theflanges or wings 3! are effective for engaging the outer edge portionsof the collar I! to retain it against the U-shaped portion 38 and alsoagainst the U-shaped spring support 24.

The large openings 23 permit the screws 21, which extend freelytherethrough, to be moved laterally in different directions for theadjustment of the resistance element, and When the desired location isobtained, the screws may be set rigidly in such position by the bar nut32. The bar nut 32 is provided with nut portions at either end adaptedto receive the screws 21. In the specific illustration given, the nuts33 are in the form of speed nuts and have inwardly-extending tongues 34spaced vertically to engage different spirals of the screw. Since suchnuts are of well-known construction, a detailed description is notgiven. The bar 32 is held against rotation by the flange 22 of the strapl8. While I prefer the strap or bar nut 32, because of the speed ofassembly and firmness, etc., it will be understood that other suitablenuts may be employed for the purposes described,

The tubular sheet or cylindrical support [6 of the resistance element isprovided at its outer end with the usual wire terminals 35 and strapconductor 36. It will be understood that the resistance element may beof difierent types and forms and that for the purpose of the presentinvention it need only be equipped with a cylindrical support for theelement.

Operation In the operation of the structure, the resistance element I4is placed in position with the depending neck portion [3 extendingfreely through the enlarged opening I2 of the pan and the cylindricalsupport resting adjacent the metal strap portion 2|. The spring tensionmember 24 is placed in position to receive the cylindrical support [6and the clamp member 28 is placed over member [6 and spring member 24.The screws 21 are passed through the flanges 29 and 26, respectively, ofmembers 28 and 24, and through the large openings 23. The ends of thescrews are brought into engagement with the nuts 33 of the nut bar 32.The screws may be slightly tightened to hold the parts in assembledrelation and then the entire assembly may be moved with the cylindricalsupport It to bring the resistance coil i4 into the desired elevationalposition within and above pan H. When the resistance coil has beenlocated at the desired point, the screws 2'! are then firmly tightenedto maintain the adjustment member in the desired selected position. Thespring saddle or bridge 25, because of its yielding character, permitsthe cylindrical support it to be rotated when it is desired to swing thecoil E4 to a raised position, and because of such friction, theresistance element remains in its raised position. The housewife maythen remove the spider I and clean the bowl of reflector pan H. Aftercleaning, the spider may be replaced and the resistance element l4pressed downwardly to a position resting upon the spider. In therotation of member 16, endwise movement of member is is prevented by theengagement of the fin or collar I! with the flanges 3i and loop walls 30of member 28.

In the foregoing structure, and for the purpose 4 resistance coil andthe range top or reflector pan, the entire supporting assembly,including parts 24, 21, 28 and 32, may be moved toward the reflector panor away from the reflector pan and also in a vertical plane and invarious angular directions by reason of the large round openings 23.When, however, the final desired'position of the resistance coil [4 isfound, the parts may be permanently clamped together for securing theresistance coil in that position. Thereafter, however, the resistancecoil may be swung to various positions without disturbing such initialadjustment, and the spring saddle 25 is effective in retaining theresistance coil in the angular position to which it is moved.

The new support structure provides a bracket secured entirelyindependently of the pan H and thus enabling the resistance element toextend freely through an opening in the pan without resting upon orengaging the pan while at the same time the broad strap support whichoccupies a minimum of space supports the resistance element both forinitial adjustment and for rotary movement to different positions. Inthe foregoing description, a single reflector pan has been referred to.It will be understood that the range top will normally be prepared witha number of reflector pans or bowls and that supporting strap means suchas has been illustrated will be employed for each of such pans.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set out a single structurein considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment ofthe invention, it will be understood that such details of structure maybe varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In an electric range having a top provided with a burner pan and aresistance element coil therefor equipped with a downwardly andlaterally-inclined cylindrical support, said burner pan having anenlarged opening through which said resistance element freely extends, aWide strap of relatively thin cross-section having a horizontal topflange secured to said top and having a depending portion with its thinedge generally facing the pan adjacent said opening, said dependingportion being apertured, and means on said strap and extending throughsaid aperture for releasably locking said support rotatably upon saidstrap including a yieldable spring member bearing against said supportand a member on the opposite side of said support and opposing saidspring member, whereby said support is maintained in frictionalengagement between said spring member and said member.

2. In an electric range having a top provided with a burner pan and aresistance element coil therefor equipped with a downwardly andlaterally-inclined cylindrical support having a flange collar thereon,said burner pan having an enlarged opening through which said resistanceelement freely extends, a wide strap of relatively thin cross-sectionhaving a horizontal top portion secured to said top and having adepending por tion with its thin edge generally facingthe pan adjacentsaid opening, said depending portion being apertured, and means on saidstrap and extending through said aperture for releasably locking saidsupport and the collar thereof rotatably upon said strap including ayieldable spring member bearing against said support and a member on theopposite side of said support and opposing said spring member, whereby,said support is maintained in frictional engagement between said springmember and said member.

3. In an electric range having a top provided with a burner pan and aresistance element coil therefor equipped with a downwardly andlaterally-inclined cylindrical support having a flange collar thereon,said burner pan having an enlarged opening through which said resistanceelement freely extends, a wide strap of relatively thin cross-sectionhaving a horizontal top portion secured to said top and having adepending portion with its thin edge generally facing the pan adjacentsaid opening, said depending portion being apertured, and means on saidstrap and extending through said aperture for releasably locking saidsupport and the collar thereof rotatably upon said strap, said meansincluding a spring saddle frictionally engaging the bottom portion ofsaid cylindrical support and clamping means urging said cylindricalsupport into frictional engagement with said saddle.

4. In combination with a range top having an electric resistance elementand a cylindrical support thereon, a bracket having a top flange weldedto the bottom of the range top and a main body portion dependingtherefrom, said body portion being provided with spaced aperturestherethrough, a spring member providing a saddle receiving saidcylindrical support, a clamp over said support and said spring member,fastening means having shanks smaller than said apertures extendingthrough said spring and clamping members and through said apertures, andmeans on the opposite side of said body member cooperating with saidfastening means for securing said members and the cylindrical support onsaid body member, whereby said cylindrical support is releasably lockedrotatably between said spring member and said clamp.

5. A support bracket for adjustably supporting the cylindrical portionof an electric resistance element, comprising a wide metal strap of thincross-section having a top horizontal flange portion and a dependingbody portion, said body portion being provided with spaced openings ingeneral vertical alignment, U-shaped clamping means having a surfacethereof arcuately formed to engage the cylindrical portion of saidresistance element, fastening means having shanks of lesser diameterthan the openings of said body portion, means on the side of said bodyportion opposite said clamp member for cooperating with said fasteningmeans to secure said clamp member in position, and yieldable springmeans between said cylindrical portion of the resistance element andsaid body portion of the support bracket for resisting rotary movementof said cylindrical portion of the resistance element.

6. A support bracket for adjustably supporting the cylindrical portionof an electric resistance element having a flange collar thereon,comprising a wide metal strap of thin cross-section having a tophorizontal flange portion and a depending body portion, said bodyportion being provided with spaced openings in general verticalalignment, clamping means adapted to engage the cylindrical portion ofsaid resistance element and further adapted to receive the flange collarof said cylindrical portion of the resistance element, fastening meanshaving shanks of lesser diameter than the openings of said body portion,means on the side of said body portion opposite said clamp member forcooperating with said fastening means to secure said clamp member inposition, and spring means for resisting rotary movement of saidcylindrical portion of the resistance element, said spring meanscomprising a U-shaped spring member having a saddle receiving the bottomportion of said cylindrical part of the resistance element.

7. In an electric range having a top provided with a burner pan and aresistance element coil therefor equipped with a downwardlyandlaterally-inclined cylindrical support having a flange collar thereon,said burner pan having an enlarged opening through which the cylindricalsupport freely extends, a wide strap of relatively thin cross-sectionhaving a horizontal top portion secured to said range top and having adepending portion with its thin edge generally facing the pan adjacentsaid opening, said depending portion being provided with a largeaperture, a U-shaped spring member provided with a saddle receiving thelower portion of said cylindrical support, a U-shaped clamping memberextending over said support and over said U-shaped spring member, saidU-shaped clamping member being slotted and flanged to receive the flangecollar on the cylindrical support of the resistance element, screw meansextending through said spring member, clamping member, and saidaperture, and nut means on the side of said strap opposite said springmember and clamping member for engaging said screw means.

8. In an electric range having a top provided with a burner pan and aresistance element coil therefor equipped with a downwardly andlaterally inclined cylindrical support having a flange collar thereon,said burner pan having an enlarged opening through which the cylindricalsupport freely extends, a wide strap of relatively thin cross sectionhaving a body portion with its thin edge generally facing the panadjacent said opening, said body portion being provided with a largeaperture, a yieldable spring member bearing against said cylindricalsupport, a U-shaped clamping member extending over said support and oversaid spring member, screw means extending through said spring member,clamping member and said aperture, and nut means on the side of saidstrap opposite said spring member and clamping member for engaging saidscrew means whereby said cylindrical support is urged into frictionalengagement with said spring member and said clamping member.

9. The structure of claim 8 in which the body portion is provided withtwo apertures and screws extending through said apertures, and a metalbar providing nuts receiving said screws.

10. The structure of claim 9 in which the body portion is provided witha rearwardly-extending flange abutting said bar.

EARL H. ANDERSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,508,552 Tuttle May 23, 19502,565,432 Kirk Aug. 21, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 446,453Great Britain Apr. 30, 1936 861,360 France Feb. 7, 1941

